Go Beavs: An Oregon State Dynasty

[-Ray27Rice-]

Are you watching the BCS Championship or what?

[Emac78]

Yeah, I put the Music City Bowl in there for you B-More. If you noticed, I skipped over the bowls I think are meaningless. I only did the BCS bowls, bowls with two top 25 teams, upsets, Pac-10 teams, and anything else I thought was worth notice.

Yes. The BCS Championship will have a full report. I've done that for every past season. Feel free to check out the last four championships if you want.

[Emac78]

BCS National Championship-Miami, FL

#2 USC (12-0) vs #1 Clemson (13-0)

Chris: We are coming to you live from beautiful Miami, Florida for the championship game. All of the hype can finally come to an end because it is about to settled on the field. However, BYU was able to finish undefeated with a win over West Virginia so the Cougars might feel like they are just as deserving to be here. But the matchup we have here tonight should prove to be a good one.

Clemson has cruised through the ACC with really no problems, with one of the most prolific offenses in college football, led by head coach Gary Crowton. You might remember the last time Clemson found itself on this stage was three years ago against Ohio State. That would be the game that cost Tommy Bowden his job when the Tigers gave up a 20-7 lead in under two minutes because of some of the worst playcalling at the end of a game that you will ever see. Clemson hired then LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton and they now find themselves right back here for another crack at it.

On the other side, they will play against one of the traditional powerhouses in all of college football, the USC Trojans. The Men of Troy have had their inconsistencies on offense and have had some close calls against Oregon State and Stanford even took them down to the wire. But the Trojans were able to get through the season unscathed and now face the Clemson Tigers. So guys, what's your take on this one?

Kirk: This will prove to be one of the more entertaining championships we've seen in a while. We've got two of the best tailbacks in the nation with Clemson HB Scott Thomas and USC HB Curtis McNeal. Clemson has a clear edge at QB with Kyle Parker leading the Tigers' offense. But it will be USC's offensive line that will prove to be a big difference today. Look for McNeal to have a big game on the ground. And I look for the Trojans to make some key plays on the defensive side of the ball. I've got to pick the Trojans.

Lee: Look at that, dismissing the Tigers already just like most of the people and the pundits around the country. Let me say one thing. Mark this down. This will be a lot closer than the experts think. Clemson is a terrific football team but they haven't faced any team like the Trojans. I say this one comes down to key plays. Even though Clemson is ranked 1st in points per game, total defense, pass defense, and turnover differential it will be the Trojans that will make the game-changing plays on the defensive side of the ball. [Lee puts on the USC armor and helmet, and raises the sword up] GO TROJANS!

[Emac78]

BCS National Championship
#2 USC (12-0) vs #1 Clemson (13-0)

Miami, FL - Under a beautiful clear night in south Florida, Clemson HB Scott Thomas, the kick return award winner, took the opening kickoff, found a seam, made his way to the sideline and was off to the races, the 40, the 30, the 20, the 10, touchdown Tigers right out of the opening gate. But wait, there was a flag down. The referee announced to the crowd, "Holding on the return team." And that is how the 2012 BCS championship started between USC and Clemson. The electrifying return by Thomas instantly brought the stadium to life but it did not spark Clemson's offense as they were forced to punt after three consecutive runs by Thomas who was likely a bit tired after running the length of the field on the called back return.

USC would have a little more success as their offense was clicking from the start. However, the Tigers would stop the Trojans, and USC attempted a 33-yard field goal which surprisingly fell short of the cross bar as the Trojans have one of the worst place kickers in all of college football. Now Clemson would look to get something going on offense. Tiger QB Kyle Parker threw a short pass to WR#87 who was lit up by USC ROLB #50 for a fumble which the Trojans recovered. Already, the USC defense was making plays.

Clemson WR#87 fumbles the ball after being hit hard by USC ROLB#50.

USC would look to take advantage of the turnover as QB Xavier Miller threw to HB Curtis McNeal on a screen that would gain 19 yards to get the Trojans in the red zone. Then the diminutive USC HB#20 slipped through the Clemson defense for a 17-yard touchdown as the Trojans strike first, taking a 7-0 lead.

USC HB#20 slips by the Clemson defense for a 17-yard touchdown run.

However, Clemson would strike back quickly when kick returner, WR TJ Church, found an opening on the kickoff, a USC defender whiffed on a tackle, and he too was off to the races, the 40, the 30, the 20, the 10, touchdown Tigers. This time there were no flags on the play. Church tied the game 7-7 with his 95-yard touchdown return. USC head coach Pete Carroll was not too happy on the sideline about his special teams.

Clemson WR TJ Church with a 95-yard kick returned for a touchdown.

The Trojans would look to calm the game down by pounding the rock with HB Curtis McNeal and it was working. The Trojans' offensive line was starting to dominate in the trenches. It would not be long before USC found itself right back in the red zone. But QB Xavier Miller threw into the end zone and Clemson CB Keith Kelly came up with a huge interception as the Trojans came away with nothing in the red zone for the second time. As the first quarter was coming to an end, Clemson QB Kyle Parker was starting to get into rhythm, throwing some nice passes.

The Tigers would find their way into the red zone behind the passing of Parker. On third-and-one, Clemson HB Scott Thomas would be stuffed. That made it fourth-and-one. Crowton decided to go for it. Thomas was given the rock again but this time he not only got the first down, but was able to fight across for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead.

Clemson HB Scott Thomas with a 6-yard touchdown run on fourth down.

So Clemson had just taken their first lead of the game, but it would not last long as USC WR Jermaine Clark also found an opening on the ensuing kickoff, and took it to the house for an 86-yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14. Special teams must not have been a high priority coming into the game for either team.

USC WR Jermaine Clark ties the game with an 86-yard touchdown on the kick return.

The USC defense would put a stop to the Clemson offense on the ensuing drive, as the Tigers attemped a 57-yard field goal that was no good. But an offsides call kept the drive alive for the Tigers. This would allow Clemson to attempt a 49-yard field goal a few plays later and this time it sailed through the uprights to put Clemson back in front 17-14. On the ensuing possession for the Trojans, QB Xavier Miller threw to WR Anthony Miller on a screen pass for a 24-yard gain to get the Trojans inside the 5-yard line. Which is where Miller found WR Jason Cooper open in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown pass to put USC back on top 21-17.

With only a couple minutes left in the first half, Clemson QB Kyle Parker would look to score. Parker led a brilliant last minuted drive and hit TE#48 in front of the goal line where the tightend backed his way in, against the USC defenders for a 9-yard touchdown to put the Tigers back in the lead 24-21. USC QB Xavier Miller would lead a good last minute drive of his own but it came up short in the red zone, setting up another 33-yard field goal. This time it bounced off the cross bar as USC came up empty in the red zone again in the last seconds of the first half. That would bring an exciting first half to an end with Clemson leading 24-21.

[packersfan4eva]

it makes it more exciting

[Emac78]

As the second half opened, the first possession saw USC QB Xavier Miller throw another successful screen pass to HB Curtis McNeal of 28 yards to get the Trojans into the red zone. From five yards out, Miller found McNeal again in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown to put USC back on top 28-24.

However, it would not take long for Clemson to counter when HB Scott Thomas made it outside, made a UCS defender miss a tackle, broke containment and took it to the house for a 58-yard touchdown to regain the lead for the Tigers, 31-28 as the excitement continued into the third quarter.

Clemson HB Scott Thomas breaks loose for a 58-yard touchdown run.

The Trojans would slow things down on the ensuing possession, trying to get McNeal going on the ground again with some success but Miller was unable to throw for a first down, setting up a 42-yard field goal attempt. Now, USC has already missed two from 33 yards out, so the 42-yard attempt was not even close. Clemson would now have a chance to separate from the Trojans on the scoreboard if they could get in the end zone here. But QB Kyle Parker would be drilled in the backfield, fumbling the ball which the Trojans recovered and returned all the way for a touchdown. Just like that, USC had taken the lead back 35-31.

Clemson QB Kyle Parker is hit hard, fumbling ball which is recovered for a USC touchdown.

Now it looked like the two defenses had awakened as Clemson was held to a three and out. Parker might have been trying to shake some cobb webs after the brutal hit he sustained earlier as he threw some uncharacteristic passes for him that were nearly intercepted. The Trojans definitely had the momentum on their side. However, USC QB Xavier Miller also threw into coverage, but Clemson was able to make the interception. But Clemson would not capitalize on the turnover as Parker was sacked, leading to a punt. As the third quarter came to an end, USC HB Curtis McNeal was starting to break five yard runs at a time.

However, USC would be held and forced to punt. Now it was becoming a battle for field postition as both teams traded punts. Then Clemson QB Kyle Parker regained his composure and started picking apart the Trojan defense until the Tigers found themselves in the red zone. Finally, HB Scott Thomas would get into the end zone from inches away to put Clemson back on top 38-35 with 2:50 to go in the game.

Clemson HB Scott Thomas in with his third touchdown.

Now it was USC QB Xavier Miller's chance to see what he could do with this kind of pressure and the game on the line. Miller looked good, making the right reads, and gunning some impressive passes into tight coverage. The Trojans had just crossed inside Clemson territory with 1:30 left when Miller threw to WR Jermaine Clard near the sideline but Clemson OLB Stanley Hunter was in coverage to make the interception and took it all the way back for a huge pick-six. With the apparent game-changing play by Hunter, the Tigers took a 45-35 lead, the biggest lead for either team in the game.

Clemson OLB Stanley Hunter comes up with a game-changing pick-six.

But USC QB Xavier Miller regained his composure and threw a high arching pass to the elite TE Rhett Ellison who was wide open for a late 42-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 45-42 with :38 left in the game. The touchdown connection was just what the Trojans needed. If USC could get the onside kick, the game was not over yet.

USC QB Xavier Miller finds TE Rhett Ellison wide open for a 42-yard touchdown.

It would likely come down to this onside kick. Although, USC did still have all of their timeouts. The ball was kicked into the ground, flew up in the air and Clemson easily caught it to recover the onside kick, then was drilled by a USC defener for a fumble, but Clemson recovered the ball. The USC defense had to hold here and maybe could have a few seconds to try a miracle. Well, their hopes came to an end when Clemson HB Scott Thomas quickly made it through the gut for a first down. The Clemson Tigers are your 2012 national champions.

USC 42
QB Miller: 32-49, 395 yds, 3 td, 3 int
HB McNeal: 26 car, 91 yds, 7 rec, 95 yds, rec td
TE Ellison: 5 rec, 99 yds, td
ROLB #50: 13 tkl, 4 tfl, defl, ff

Clemson 45
QB Parker: 25-32, 242 yds, td, fl
HB Thomas: 20 car, 98 yds, 3 td
WR Church: 6 rec, 80 yds, 94-yd krtd
OLB Hunter: 12 tkl, tfl, int, td

[packersfan4eva]

w00t, clemson = champs. nice bowl win

[-Ray27Rice-]

Dang, nice back and forth game.

[-Ray27Rice-]

Hope he continues this, this is by far my favorite.

[Emac78]

[b][size=+2]Final Poll[/size][/b]

1 Clemson 14-0 [b](37 AP 1st votes)[/b]
2 BYU 13-0 [b](28 AP 1st votes)[/b]
3 Penn State 12-1
4 USC 12-1
5 Nebraska 13-1
6 Ohio State 12-1
7 Texas 11-2
8 Wisconsin 11-2
9 Tennessee 12-2
10 Notre Dame 11-2
11 Virginia Tech 12-2
12 Auburn 11-2
13 Oklahoma 11-3
14 Georgia Tech 11-2
[b]15 Oregon State 11-2[/b]
16 LSU 12-2
17 Utah 12-1
18 Arizona State 10-3
19 Texas Tech 10-3
20 FIU 11-2
21 Florida 9-4
22 TCU 10-3
23 Florida State 9-4
24 Hawai'i 11-2
25 Michigan 9-4

[Emac78]

Coaching Carousel

Legendary head coach of the Penn State football program, Joe Paterno has finally decided retire. This came as no surprise to anybody and the Nittany Lions have been on the search for a successor since it is believed early this season that it was apparent that Paterno would be stepping down. It only took a week for Penn State to announce that Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will be the successor.


Joe Paterno (left) Will Muschamp (right)

Surprisingly, Florida State Seminloes head coach Bobby Bowden has also decied to to step down after a long, illustrious tenure. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will finally take over as the new head coach after a long wait.


Jimbo Fisher on the left and Bobby Bowden on the right.

Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti will also step down. Bellotti will probably be overshadowed by Paterno and Bowden's retirements, but Bellotti also had a great run that put Eugene on the map in the world of college footbally. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will step right in as he has been groomed to take over. However, after a rather lackluster seson last year and being shut out by rival Oregon State in the Civil War, Kelly could be in for some tough times in Eugene.


Mike Bellotti (left) Chip Kelly (right)

After finishing 4-8 and last in the ACC Coastal division, it came as no surprise that Miami head coach Randy Shannon was let go by the Hurricanes. But what has followed after dropping Shannon has been quite a spectacle as the media first reported that BYU coach Bronco Mendenhaul would be the guy, but Mendenhaul turned the job down. Then it looked like Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson might try to lead Miami back to glory, but those rumors proved unfounded when Erickson told the media that he had no interest in going back to Miami. Utah's Kyle Whittingham seemed like the next candidate but he told the Hurricanes that he was happy where he was. Finally, the Hurricanes announced they had hired Jon Gruden, the former Super Bowl winning head coach of the Tamba Bay Buccaneers. Gruden will install a spread offense similar to Texas Tech.


Randy Shannon (left) Jon Gruden (right)

[Emac78]

where ya been, you got me scared

btw nice place to end the season for Oregon State

I needed to take a break from this for a while. I'll try to get this rolling again.

[Emac78]

[b][size=+2]2012 Season Stats[/size][/b]

[b][size=+1]Offense[/size][/b]

QB Bryan Rossner: [b]250-341, 3298 yds, 27 td, 12 int,[/b] 2 rush td
HB Marvin Quinn: 137 car, [b]709 yds[/b], [b]9 td[/b], 11 rec, 131 yds, 2 rec td
HB Jacquizz Rodgers: [b]153 car[/b], 513 yds, 2 td, 13 rec, 159 yds, 2 td
WR Brian Herring: 53 rec, [b]945 yds, 10 td[/b]
WR Bill Faaeteete: 57 rec, 787 yds, 5 td
WR Alex Whitehead: 52 rec, 635 yds, 8 td
TE Adam Banks: [b]62 rec[/b], 666 yds, 3 td

[b][size=+1]Defense[/size][/b]

FS Matt Arnold: [b]70 tkl[/b], 4 tfl, 4 int, 10 defl, td
MLB Paul Jones: 60 tkl, 11 tfl, sk, 4 int, 5 defl, td
CB Amir White: 59 tkl, 6 tfl, sk, 2 int, 3 defl, sfty
SS Courtney Smith: 57 tkl, 5 tfl, 3 int, 10 defl, td
CB Mike Mayes: 57 tkl, 7 tfl, [b]9 int, 14 defl, 2 td[/b]
OLB Cole Alexander: 51 tkl, 8 tfl, 2 sk, 2 int, 4 defl
OLB Carlos Matthews: 45 tkl, 11 tfl, 2 sk, 3 defl, ff
DT Mark Crum: 36 tkl, 9 tfl, 5 sk, defl
DE Brian Dailey: 35 tkl, [b]12 tfl[/b], 3 sk, defl, ff, sfty
DT Lee King: 34 tkl, 11 tfl, [b]7 sk[/b], 2 defl
CB Matt McDaniel: 32 tkl, 3 int, defl
DE Brandon Webb: 27 tkl, 11 tfl, 6 sk, defl

[Emac78]

Players Graduating



QB Bryan Rossner
161.3 rtg, 711-1025, 9380 yds, 74 td, 45 int, 69% comp per, 125 car, 504 yds, 7 rush td


HB Marvin Quinn
756 car, 3104 yds, 4.1 ypc, 43 td, 92 rec, 1028 yds, 11 rec td


FS Matt Arnold
187 tkl, 6 tfl, 10 int, 18 defl, 4 td

QB Bryan Rossner 91
QB Ryan Katz 89
HB Marvin Quinn 93
HB Jacquizz Rodgers 89
HB #37 87
WR #80 82
RG Grant Johnson 88
DE Brian Dailey 87
OLB Jeff Henry 74
MLB Paul Jones 89
CB Amir White 87
FS Matt Arnold 86
SS Scott Bryant 74

Leaving Early for NFL Draft

CB Mike Mayes 86 JR

CB Mike Mayes
207 tkl, 12 tfl, 16 int, 41 defl, 4 td

[Emac78]

Signing Day

Top Classes


Les Miles (LSU)

1 LSU
2 Oklahoma
3 Michigan
4 Penn State
5 Texas
6 Florida
7 Auburn
8 Nebraska
9 Wisconsin
10 Ohio State
13 UCLA
19 USC
23 Arizona State
29 California
32 Oregon 
[b]47 Oregon State[/b]
56 Washington
58 Arizona
87 Stanford
100 Washington State
120 Bowling Green

Top Ten Prospects


FS Trent Rome (Nebraska)

1 FS Trent Rome: Charlotte, NC (Nebraska)
[color=purple]2 HB AJ Butler: Corvallis, OR (LSU)[/color]
3 T Kurt Burns: Andrews, TX (Texas)
4 ATH Brian Butler: Woodbridge, VA (Ohio State)
5 WR Keith Hill: Farmington, MO (Oklahoma)
[color=red]6 CB Kyle Garvella: Los Angeles, CA (Nebraska)[/color]
7 FS Isaac McDonald: Lead, SD (Michigan)
[color=blue]8 HB Kevin Fox: Las Vegas, NV (Michigan)[/color]
9 WR Chris Jackson: Hilo, HI (Miami)
10 ATH Marques Wilkinson: Candier-McAfee, GA (Alabama)

Five-Star QBs


QB Walter Woods (Notre Dame)

15 Walter Woods: Coon Rapids, MN (Notre Dame)
20 Ryan Harrison: Waukegan, IL (Texas Tech)
23 Corey Smith: LaGrange, GA (Alabama)

Five-Star HBs, Class of the Running Back


HB AJ Butler (LSU)

[color=purple]2 AJ Butler: Corvallis, OR (LSU)[/color]
[color=blue]8 Kevin Fox: Las Vegas, NV (Michigan)[/color]
16 John Glasper: Saida, CO (Michigan)
17 Jimmy Woodard (JUCO): Newberry, SC (North Carolina)
19 Edwin Cole: Destrehan, LA (Texas Tech)
22 Brandon Barrett: Massillon, OH (Ohio)
27 Matt Abrams: San Marcos, TX (Oklahoma)
32 Pierre Robison: Chesterton, IN (Texas)
33 Brandon Spencer: Rockingham, NC (Tennessee)
38 Brian Marks: Adamsville, AL (Georgia)

Five-Star WRs


WR Keith Hill (Oklahoma)

5 Keith Hill: Farmington, MO (Oklahoma)
9 Chris Jackson: Hilo, HI (Miami)
11 Simeon Cooper (JUCO): Mason, OH (Notre Dame)

Top Ten Pac-10 Prospects, No Five-Stars


HB Travis Dickerson (USC)

53 HB Travis Dickerson 4*: Saskatoon, CN (USC)
54 DT Dexter Lee 4*: Portland, OR (Oregon)
57 HB Andy Harrison 4*: North Versailles, PA (Arizona State)
58 OLB Scott McKenzie 4*: Hacienda Heights, CA (UCLA)
76 WR Chris Howe 4*: Sandusky, OH (USC)
89 FS BJ Hinds 4*: Sunrise Manor, NV (USC)
91 MLB Kevin McRae 4*: Spring Creek, NV (USC)
94 FS Byron Smith 4*: Adamsville, AL (California)
98 OLB Sheldon Nichols 4*: Redwood City, CA (Arizona State)
100 WR Quentin Crenshaw 4*: Kingsville, TX (Arizona State)